Continuous pickling and cleaning device for metal



2 Sheets-She# 1 F. J. woon CONTINUOUS vPIGKLIHG AND CLEANING DEVICE FOR HETAL Filed Jag. 17, 1942 April 1, 1947. l F. J. woon 2,418,386

` CON'INUOUS PICKLING AND CLEANING' DEVICE FOR METAL l Filed Jan. 17, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTINUOUS PICKLING AND CLEANING DEVICE FOR METAL Frank J. Wood, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 17, 1942, Serial No. 427,092

Claims.

l This invention relates to improvements in continuous pickling and cleaning devices for metal and more particularly relates to a new and improved means vfor facilitating the pickling operation. A 5 Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken The principal objects of my invention are to through the troughs and showing certain deprovide a novel circulating and conducting means tails of one of the pickling uid discharge pipes for the pickling fluid in the pickling trough, so entering the trough; arranged as to circulate fresh pickling fluid across Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse SeCtiOnal the upper and lower surfaces of the metal at a View taken Substantially along line 4-4 0f Fighigh velocity, to insure that the entire' surfaces ure 1; of the metal are washed with fresh pickling fluid Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional at all times during the pickling operation. view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig- A more specific object of my invention is to proure 1; vide a pickling trough having piokling fluid inlets Figure 6 is a diagrammatic partial fragmentary spaced at intervals along the trough, above and lOIlgitudlnal SeCtOnal View showing certain debelow the path of travel of the metal theretails of the means for remvng Dickling Huid through with a deilecting means at the bottom of from the metal; and l the trough, to deflect fluid discharged from the Figure 7 is an enlarged diagrammatic partial lower nuid inlets and to cause it to move in sub- 2o fragmentary longitudinal Sectional view taken stantially recurrent paths and assume a whirlpool substantially along line 'l--l of Figure 1, showing action, together with fluid inlets entering the certain details of the nozzles for removing picktrough above the path of travel of the metal ling iluid from the metal. therethrough and adapted to direct plckling uid In the drawings, an elongated pickling trough into the trough transversely thereof in substan- I0, adapted to have the metal pass therethrough, tially recurrent paths so said uid inlets will for pickling by a hot pickling solution, is shown circulate fresh acid across both sides of the metal as being mounted on and extending along a pickat a high Velocity, at all times during the DlCkling ling tank I I, which receives pickling huid disoperation. charged from the ends of said trough, where it is A further object of my invention is to provide recirculated into said trough by means of a suita novel form of pickling and cleaning trough with able motor driven pump i2 of a usual construcmeanS fOr directing the pckllng illlld into Said tion. Pinch rolls indicated generally by refertrOllgh in recurrent paths abOVe and belOW the ence character i3 are provided at the entering path of travel of the metal therethrough, toend of said trough, for pushing strip metal M gether with means for aiding the fluid to travel therethrough, and other pinch rolls |4 (See Figin these recurrent paths and for accelerating the um 6) are provided at the discharge end of said pickling action of the pickling uid by directing trough for pushing the metal tothe next ad, gaels medium under pressure into the pick' jacent station in the pickling and cleaning device. n stliln urther object of my invention is to pro 10 From said pinch mus the metal may pass vide a means for removing pickling fluid from the through sgrubbfmg and lrushmg ons mdlc'ed strip metal as it leaves the piokling tank, byoigenerally y re ence c amate" for Wa? ig recting a gaseous medium under pressure on the and brushing the metal and mrther pushm 1t top and bottom sides of the metal,l in a direction through the system" The picklmg and clean'mg to blow the piokling nuid from the metal. apparatus 0f which the trough 0 1S a POYUOH' Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following speciilcation proceeds and with referenceto the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a pickling and '2 cleaning trough constructed in accordance with inv invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1;

and the pinch and scrubbing and brushing rolls are a part of a pickling and cleaning apparatus such as is generally illustrated and described in my prior Patent No. 2,141,732,1so will not herein be shown or described in detail, except in so far as is necessary to make my present invention readily understandable.

The pickling trough IU, as herein shown, is of a rectangular cross section open at its discharge end as indicated by reference 'character I0' in Figure 6 and having a similar opening at its entering end, to permit the strip metal to continuously pass therethrough. Said trough is provided with a plurality of abutting covers I6, I6,

extending over the top thereof and mounted on oppositesides of said trough (see Figure 4), to prevent Athe spilling of pickling fluid from said trough during the pickling operation. Said pick-` ling trough is preferably constructed from an acid resisting sheet metal such as stainless steel, and is provided with a plurality of parallel spaced blocks Il, I'I, disposed therealong, for supporting the metal above the bottom of the trough as it travels therealong. Said blocks are mounted on longitudinally spaced transversely extending through said nozzles. The gaseous medium used may be of a kind which will accelerate the action of the pickling uid and may be at room temperature, or may be heated if desired, to help maintain the pickling solution at the desired temperature. Air has been found to be a suitable medium, but the products of combustion of the blast furnace or any other suitable form shafts I8, I8, mounted on their ends in the sides A of said ,pickling trough, and may be made from any smooth material which will support the metal above the bottom of the trough and will not scratch it as it passes thereover during the pickling operation.

Referring now to the fluid connections, for conducting iluid into the pickling trough, a pipe I9 leads from the pump I2 to a pipe or header 20, which extendsalong the trough Il), adjacent one side thereof. The pipe 20 has connection with longitudinally spaced discharge pipes or nozzles 23, 23, which, as shown in Figure 2, extend into the pickling trough III, through the sides thereof, and beneath the horizontal plane along v which the metal travels through said pickling trough (see Figure 4), to direct pickling fluid under pressure into said trough in a transverse direction. i

Angular deflectors 24, 24 are mounted at the bottom of said pickling trough, beneath the path of travel of the metal therethrough, on the opposite side of the longitudinal center line of the trough from the pipes 23, 23. The angle of said deflectors is such that when engaged by the pickling fluid discharged under pressure from the pipes 23. 23, said deectors will deflect the pickling uid in directions towards the discharge end of the trough and cause said fluid to travel in recurrent paths across the trough and back towards the side from which said picklingfluid enters the trough.

The pipe 20 also has connection with transversely extending' discharge pipes or nozzles 25, 2-5 which lead into the pickling trough I0, through the sides thereof, and are arranged alternately with the pipes 23, 23 and are disposed-above the path of travel of the metal through said pickling trough (see Figure 4). The ends of said pipes ornozzles 25, 25, as herein shown, are formed to be inclined in a direction towards the discharge end of said trough (see Fig. 3), to direct the fluid transversely across the metal in substantially recurrent paths and in the same direction as the iluid is dedected by the deilectors 24, 24.

A rapid continually agitated flow of pickling fluid is thus provided, which is circulated over the top and bottom sides of the metal, thus insuring that the entire surface of the metal is intimately washed by fresh acid at all times.

A pipe 21 extends along the opposite side of the pickling trough III from the pipe 20, above the path of travel of the metal therethrough, and has connection with a plurality of vertically spaced transversely disposed pipes or nozzles 29,

of gas may be used. Said nozzles, directing a gaseous medium under pressure into the pickling solution from the opposite side thereof from which the pickling fluid is directed into said trough, thus serve to increase the whirlpool action and agitation of the pickling fluid, and the gas, besides increasing the agitation of the pickling iluid and breaking up any hydrogen bubbles, and preventing the formation of protective coatings or films, also accelerates the chemical action of the pickling duid on the metallic oxides, an increases the speed of pickling.

A pipe 3| is herein shown as being connected to the pipe 21. charge end of the pickling 'trough I0 and has connection with a horizontally arranged transversely extending pipe or nozzle 33 (see Figures 1, 6 and 7). A transversely extending pipe 3l' is arranged beneath the pipe 3| and extends in parallel relation with respect to said pipe 3l. Said pipe 3I' is connected to the pie 2'! (see Figure 6) and leads to a transversely extending` nozzle or pipe 33' disposed beneath the nozzle 33. Said transversely extending nozzles are spaced forwardly of the discharge end of said pickling trough and extend transversely across the forward end thereof above and below the path of travel of the metal to the pinch rolls I4, I4 (see Figures 6 and 7). Said pipes, extending across the discharge end of said trough are in the form of a V in plan, the point of the V being on the longitudinal center line of the trough. Said upper pipe 33 has a slot 34 extending along the lower forward portion thereof and inclined downwardlytowards the metal and the entering end of the trough, to direct air or any other gaseous medium on the metal at such an angle as to blow the pickling iluid therefrom. Said lowerA pipe 33 has a similar slot 34' formed therein, to direct air or gas under pressure on the lower side of the metal and blow excess pickling fluid therefrom.

It may be seen from' the foregoing that heated or cold air, or a gaseous medium, may be directed against both sides of the metal as it leaves the pickling trough, in directions to remove all pickling uid therefrom before the metal contacts the pinch rolls I4, I4, thus providing an eilicient and simplied means for removing pickling fluid from the metal before it reaches the pinch rolls and for preventing the carrying over of thepickling fluid beyond thepinch rolls as the metal leaves the pickling trough and tank.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered. without departing from the spirit and Valves 30, 30 are 1 provided t0 control the amount of gas passingv Said pipe leads beyond the disaeiasso scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specic embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In anA apparatus 'of the classdescribed, a trough, a plurality of grid blocks disposed along said trough for slidably supporting an article above the bottom ofsaid trough for treatment as it passes along said trough, and means for directing a treating solution Vto iiow across said trough at a high velocitywith a whirlpool action at a plurality of places alongsaid trough, above and below the path of travel of the article being treated through-said trough, including a plurality of uid conducting pipes entering said trough along one side thereof above and below the horizontal plane in which the material'supporting surfaces of said blocks lie, and adapted to discharge uid under pressure into said trough in a transverse direction with respect thereto, and other pipes entering said trough along the opposite side thereof from said first mentioned pipes above and below the horizontal plane in which the 'material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie, for discharging uid under pressure into said trough in a transverse direction with respect thereto.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, va

direction eich respect thereto, and. e piumini-,yY` er, .longitudinally and vertically spaced nozzles entervlng said trough above and below-thehor'izontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces 5 of said blocks lie, arranged to discharge a gaseous medium into said treating lsolution at a high velocity, to aid in directing the treating uid in f recurrent pathsand to facilitate the treating action of said treating solution.

l0 -4. In an apparatus of the class described, a

trough through which the article to be treated is adapted to pass, a plurality of grid blocks disposed along said trough for slidably supporting an article above .the bottom of said trough for treatment as it passes along said trough, and

entering said trough below the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie, and adapted to discharge iiuid under pressure into said trough in a transverse 'direction with' respect thereto, other pipes arranged alternately with said first mentioned pipes above the horizontal plane in which the material supi porting surfaces of said blocks lie, for discharging uid under pressure into said trough in a transverse direction with respect thereto, and

trough, a plurality'of grid blocks disposed along v:i0 angular defiectors in the bottom of said trough said trough for slidably supporting an article above the bottom of said trough for treatment' as it passes along said trough, and means for directing a treating solution across said trough at 'a high velocity with a whirlpool action at a plurality of places along said trough, above and below-the path of travel of vthe article being treated through said trough, including a plurality of fluid conducting pipes entering said trough from one side thereof above and below the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie, and deectors along the bottom of said trough adapted to be engaged by the streams of treating fluid discharged from the pipes along the bottom of said trough, to deect the uid discharged therefrom and causeV it to travel in substantially recurrent paths, and said pipes above the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie being directed at obtuse angles to the sides of said trough, to cause the plckling uid to travel in recurrent paths in the same direction as the paths of the' iiuid discharged below the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a

A trough, a plurality of grid blocksdisposed along 'said trough Vfor slidably supporting an article above the bottom of said trough for treatment as it passes along said trough, and means for directing a treating solution across said trough at a high velocity with a whirlpool action at a plurality of places along said trough, above and below the path ofv travelof the article being treated through said trough, including a plurality of fluid conducting pipes entering said trough below the horizontal plane in which the r material supporting surfaces of saidblocks lie and adapted to dischargejiiuid under pressure into said trough in a transverse direction with respect thereto, other pipes arrangedV alternately with said rst mentioned pipes above the horizontal plane in which the material supportingv surfaces of'said blocks lie, for discharging fluid under pressure into said trough in a transverse adjacent the side thereof opposite said lower pipes and in alignmentv with said lower pipes, said deectors being adapted to deflect the treating fluid discharged from said pipes and to cause it 'to travel in recurrent paths across the article being treated, during travel thereof along said trough, and said pipes above the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie being at an angle to the sides of said 40 trough to discharge the nuid transversely of said trough in the direction of travel of the article being treated through said trough. f

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a trough through which the article to be treated is adapted to pass, a plurality of grid blocks4 disposed along said trough for slidably supporting an article above the bottom oi' said trough for treatment as it passes alongsaid trough, and means for washing a treating solution across and above and below the article to be treated with a whirlpool action, as it passes through said trough including a plurality of fluid conducting pipes entering said trough below the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie and adapted to discharge uid\under pressure into said trough in a transverse direction with respect thereto, and other pipes ar- .ranged alternately with said lfirst mentioned -pipes above the horizontal plane in which the material supporting surfaces of said blocks lie,

`adapted to deiiect the iiuid discharged from said pipes in the direction of travel of the article to be treated through said trough, to cause `the treating fluid to. follow substantially recurrent paths, the ends of said pipes'disposed above the horizontal plane in which the, material support ing surfaces of saidblocks lie being directed to discharge the iluid transversely of said trough in the direction of travel of the article to be treated through said trough, and a plurality of longi` tudinally and vertically spaced nozzles arranged treating solution,

to enter said trough from the side thereof opposite from said uid discharge pipes, above and below the horizontal plane in' which the mate- FRANK J. woon.

REFERENCES, crrEn The following references are of record in the 1,5r

le of this patent:

Irial supporting surfaces of said b1ocks lie, f or [Number 4UNliTED'BTATES PATENTS Name l Date A Ericson Apr. 29, 1919\ Higgins Nov. 8, 1938 Wood 2..;..- Dec, 27, 1938V 'sundh Apr. 12, 1921 Fisk` May 24, 1932 steeie ---2 -2.. Dec. s, 193s Finkbone et al. Oct. 10, 1939 Wood June 4, 1940 Eickelberger Nov. 4, 1924 Dehle s Dec. 2, 1930 Atwood June .14, 1943 Deiilel Sept. 9, 1930 Cowles Oct. 18, 1932 Nachtman Mar. 27, 1945 Croft Feb. 26, 1946 

